For all its perceived faults, there’s no denying that Netflix does mysteries extremely well. Be it foreign or domestic, the streaming service has produced a lot of great gems over the years, and it’s hoping that it has another on its hands by way of Untamed. Starring Eric Bana and Sam Neill, the new limited series is set to hit Netflix in July, and promises to show fans Yosemite National Park like never before.
Highlighted by TUDUM, all six episodes of Untamed will drop on July 17, 2025, with each one being an hour in length, so there’s plenty to get lost in as you try and solve the mystery. Focusing on Bana’s character of Kyle Turner – a special agent in an elite branch of the National Parks Service – the series traces what happens after a murder takes place in Yosemite, which is visited by around four million people each year. Also starring Lily Santiago as rookie park ranger Naya Vasquez, Untamed will further examine the dark secrets lurking in both Kyle and the park’s past, which may be just as dangerous as the murderer.

Related

One of the Most Underrated Revenge Action Thrillers Is Streaming on Netflix (So Give It a Shot)

Starring Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana, the movie is part high-concept action thriller, part coming-of-age drama.

Speaking with TUDUM, co-showrunner/creator Mark L. Smith told Netflix that his aim with Untamed is to subvert expectations as to what everyone thinks Yosemite is all about, and instead show the various threats that lurk within. “Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that,” he said, adding:

“I love stripping all the cheats away, stripping all the more modern tools that people can use. It really gets down to the character and what they can find within themselves.”

Who’s At the Heart of ‘Untamed’s Mystery?

Netflix

Also at the helm of Untamed is Elle Smith, so not only does it come from the same creator behind American Primeval and The Revenant, but The Marsh King’s Daughter, as well. Billed as a character-driven thriller, she told TUDUM that when it comes to Santiago’s role of the rookie park ranger, she represents all of us trying to understand what Yosemite National Park is all about:

“Because Vasquez is new to the park, we get to see the park through her eyes. We get to understand what this job is, and see the beauty of the park, but also the dangers.”

When it comes to Neill’s character, look for him to portray Paul Souter, the chief park ranger in Yosemite who’s a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend to Bana. He’s comfortable with all facets of his job, whether it’s dealing with crime inside the park or with the surrounding bureaucracy, but we suspect there might be more to him than meets the eye.
Featuring a wide-open setting similar to shows like Yellowstone and its many spin-offs, we’re hoping that Untamed will be able to deliver on all that it promises to be. We’ll find out on July 17 when all six episodes hit Netflix.
Source: TUDUM

Eric Bana

Birthname

Eric Banadinovich

Birthdate

August 9, 1968

Birthplace

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Bio

Eric Bana is an Australian film and television actor He began his career as a comedian in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal before gaining critical recognition in the biopic Chopper 2000 After a decade of roles in Australian TV shows and films Bana gained Hollywood s attention by playing the role of American Delta Force Sergeant Norm Hoot Hooten in Black Hawk Down 2001 the lead role as Bruce Banner in the Ang Lee directed film Hulk 2003 Prince Hector in the movie Troy 2004 the lead in Steven Spielberg s Munich 2005 and the villain Nero in the science fiction film Star Trek 2009 An accomplished dramatic actor and comedian he received Australia s highest film and television awards for his performances in Chopper Full Frontal and Romulus My Father Bana performs predominantly in leading roles in a variety of low budget and major studio films ranging from romantic comedies and drama to science fiction and action thrillers Eric Bana was the younger of two children he has a brother Anthony He is of Croatian ancestry on his father s side Bana s paternal grandfather Mate Banadinovi fled to Argentina after the Second World War and Bana s paternal grandmother emigrated to Germany and then to Australia in the 1950s with her son Ivan Bana s father His father was a logistics manager for Caterpillar Inc and his German born mother Eleanor was a hairdresser Bana grew up in Melbourne s Tullamarine a suburban area on the western edge of the city near the main airport In a cover story for The Mail on Sunday he told author Antonella Gambotto Burke that his family had suffered from racist taunts and that it had distressed him Wog is such a terrible word he said He has stated I have always been proud of my origin which had a big influence on my upbringing I have always been in the company of people of European origin Showing acting skill early in life Bana began doing impressions of family members at the age of six or seven first mimicking his grandfather s walk voice and mannerisms In school he mimicked his teachers as a means to get out of trouble As a teen he watched the Mel Gibson film Mad Max 1979 and decided he wanted to become an actor However he did not seriously consider a career in the performing arts until 1991 when he was persuaded to try stand up comedy while working as a barman at Melbourne s Castle Hotel His stand up gigs in inner city pubs did not provide him with enough income to support himself so he continued his work as a barman and bussing tables

Expand